Well look who's here!

The last time I saw Dogman and Rabbitgirl was when we were in Sydney last year in the gallery of artists Gillie and Marc.. imagine my surprise to see them sitting people watching from a gallery window on St. George's Terrace. Remember the 'cheeky' pair here in Highgate! I would still love to have one of the smaller models but unless a 'windfall' occurs that's not going to happen :) On the other hand this delightful character below by Naka seen in the window of Art Affair at Hillarys Boat Harbour would look fabulous on my red wall!

I cannot go past Art Affair without checking their fabulous window! So much to see, something suitable for every artistic preference! Hope you have an excellent weekend, it's a long weekend here in Perth, looking forward to some 'chill' time! Take care and stay safe...

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The strength and diversity of women..

Each time I visit Kings Park Botanical Gardens I make new discoveries.. like the sculptures above by Coral Lowry and Holly Story tucked away in a secluded spot. Using 'symbolic plant forms, these five sculptures invite you to reflect on the importance and diversity of the contribution of women to the community'.. the symbols also embedded in the pathway below depicting life, growth, strength of heart, leadership, and renewal. I like it very much! I absolutely mean it when I say TGIF, roll on a cooler week please! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. early bed with killer headache last night, big catch up today!

The lady in the yellow bikini!

This is one for readers in the chilly northern hemisphere.. to warm up the cockles of your heart :) Taken late yesterday afternoon at Hillarys Boat Harbour, and even though the weather was a cooler 34C the humidity was 90%, horrible!! The lady in the yellow bikini, her flowery umbrella and yellow accessories created a colourful footprint.. and below, something new since I was last here, a lifeguard on the shallow family beach this side of the boardwalk. There are lifeguards all along the main Perth beaches but this is the first time I've seen them here.  Excellent idea, it takes less than two inches of water and a minutes distraction for a tot to drown, good to have that extra pair of eyes keeping watch. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

The Elephant & Wheelbarrow and other weird pub names!

Thank heavens for archive shots! At 41C yesterday it was a wee bit hot to get out and about with camera in hand. I took these a few weeks ago in Northbridge. After perusing the 23 weirdest pub names in Britain list, with 'The Bucket of Blood' (?) in Cornwall coming in at number one, The Elephant & Wheelbarrow above, seems to almost make sense :) not really! The 'pairing of words in the names of pubs/inns in Britain was rare in the mid-17th century' then apparently after that it was game on, the odder the pairing the better!

Meanwhile below in a heritage listed building in Northbridge there's the Hotel Northbridge.. nothing puzzling about that one :) Looking forward to getting out and about on a hopefully cooler day, have a good Wednesday, take care and stay safe... p.s. what is the weirdest pub name you've come across in your travels?

Lunch with a view..

The last time I went to visit mon ami français Marie who lives by the river in Maylands, one of Perth's oldest suburbs, she suggested we have lunch at the Riverside Woodbridge Cafe in Guildford, it was a Wednesday I recall, of course that was the day it was closed! Returning yesterday was well worth the effort.. it was a warm day making the cool breezes from the Swan River most welcome. Directly across the river the vineyards of the RiverBank Estate Winery..

The cafe/restaurant is part of the historic Woodbridge House estate, built on land originally owned by James Stirling later bought by Charles Harper who built this grand old home in 1885, I bet those big wide verandahs looking out to the river were a godsend in the summer heat back then. Over the past 130 years the house has had many uses, a boarding school for boys and an old age home for woman being just two. Saved from demolition by the government in the 1960's the National Trust opened Woodbridge House to the public in 1970 and it is now a popular tourist destination. I'm sure you know what's coming next.. I'll have to go back and check it out :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

'Shoes are boring, wear sneakers!'

Just one in a series of artistic installations around the world, this one by Converse Australia. Designed to 'disrupt and clash against a grey world' the Sneakers Clash Wall has done exactly that. See how in 33 seconds (the miracle of time lapse) the buildings of 1 - 5 South Terrace, Fremantle were transformed from plain to.. anything but :) The fabulous work above is the first I've seen by Sydney based artist Alex Lehours, must find out if there are more. I recognized the work of The Yok & Sheryo below straight off, they have a very distinctive style, which you've seen here before. I hope that you had or are still having a super weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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What would you do?

A question to ponder this Sunday morning! These sweet little kittens appeared with their mother in my garden about a month ago. For the last week mum is nowhere to be seen, I can't imagine she would abandon them so I'm guessing something not good has happened to her.. these two obviously feel safe in the garden, plus of course I've been feeding them, they're so tiny. They are still a little nervous if I get too close but I know I could win them round.. I'm a little scared to get too attached (although it may be too late), still remembering the heartbreak when I lost my last furry friend. The thing is I don't feel right about letting them carry on breeding when they get older so this week I have to make a decision, do I try and catch them and have them spayed and tagged and keep them.. hmm! I may have just answered my own question :) What would you do? Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

"Hello Colin, come in the water's lovely"..

This made me laugh out loud! Spotted in the window of Wendy Binks studio in Fremantle. The painting itself is brilliant, as is all of Wendy's work, but check out the tag attached, that's hilarious! The message pertaining to the hugely unpopular introduction of 'drum lines' along Perth beaches in January this year, you probably read or heard about it, it made the news big time.The decision made by our Premier, let's call him Colin :) was thankfully short lived as the State Environmental Authority strongly advised against it. Don't even get me started on Elizabeth Quay :) Hope you have a fab weekend, take care and stay safe...

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Panda rescue mission!

Walking to the train station last week I spotted this panic-stuck little face staring into the oncoming traffic holding on for dear life :) in a grate at the side of the busy road.. snapped a shot and kept on walking. It was only later that this image struck a poignant note. Had he fallen out of a pram, a car, or while out on a bike ride with dad, was there a small child somewhere missing his/her panda bear? I actually looked the next time I passed by in the car, with all intent to recover.. it was gone, hopefully rescued and not squished down the drain! Can you tell I didn't get out and about yesterday :) Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..  

Another cloudy day in WA..

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshng,

wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating,

there is really no such thing as bad weather

only different kinds of good weather!  John Ruskin..

I like the way you think Mr. Ruskin! We enjoyed a walk around Fremantle yesterday with fellow bloggers from Germany who are soaking up the sunshine before returning to minus degrees in their hometown. Lunch at Little Creatures is always a treat, love the contradiction of the cheeky ale swigging cherubs :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. I would put money on betting the guys and gals lying in the full 35C heat in first pic are not locals :)

'La Soiree' in the Palais des Glaces..

Friday the 13th, unlucky for some.. thankfully not for us. We went to one the hottest shows in the Fringe Festival La Soirée, it was so much naughty fun :) No photos allowed unfortunately, there were many marvelous acrobatic moments that would have been brilliant to capture, but to be honest it was more enjoyable watching and participating without thinking of  'that shot' :) I did take a few to try and capture the atmosphere inside the Palais des Glaces, described as 'the grand old dame of spiegle tents, her first visit to Perth Fringe. The show is so popular it has been extended for two more weeks. 

  

Wandering around the "Pleasure Gardens' before the show.. the mermaids were playing, the beer-gardens were busy. Hot weather/beer.. a popular combination, make mine a 'shandy'! Hot start to the week in Perth 37C, wonder if there's room in that mermaid tank for moi :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe...

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The Giants.. Sleeping Giants hidden photographer :) encore et fini!

Anyone who recognized my ironic play on the movie title 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' give yourself 100 well deserved points :) There are only two ways to play the game at an event like The Giants if you are height challenged like moi (5ft 3in), if you can't find someone who'll let you sit on their shoulders, lol, and your tree climbing days are over, accept that you're never going to see over the heads of the 400,000 tall people in front of you, snatch what you can, e.g. above, enjoy the music and atmosphere.. then move on to higher ground :) Have a look here to see to see a little of the Giants walk through Perth..

The river view from Kings Park was perfect and we arrived just in time to see the Giants depart down the river towards Fremantle.. plus it was 99% less crowded up there, bonus! A bit far away you say, let's pull it in a bit...

The flotilla surrounding the Giants grew bigger as their journey down the river progressed, a flotilla likened to that which followed Alan Bond's Australia ll when it won the America's Cup in 1983.. I remember that day!

I don't feel I've been able to take the best shots for you this time, but I hope you've enjoyed the journey with me anyway, me and the estimated one point four million other people along on the ride, way to go Perth! I'm actually glad it's Monday, it's been an exhausting weekend :) Take care and stay safe.. p.s. big catch up today!

The Giants encore..

Perth is privileged this weekend to witness an event of epic proportions! It's the first time the internationally known marionettes The Giants have been seen in Australia. A production of Royal De Luxe, the Giants are here to commemorate the Centenary of Anzac and to open the Perth International Arts Festival. Little Girl Giant (6m) and Diver Giant (11m) will roam the streets of the city searching for each other, thrilling an estimated 400,000 locals and visitors with many surprises along the way.. Friday began with Little Girl Giant waking up, taking a shower before heading off in her boat in search of the Diver... 

That's an awful lot of people watching as the Little Girl Giant sets off in her ship to begin her travels along Riverside Drive and into the city.. 

Building workers get a birds eye view :)

Just a small part of  the 70 strong team Royal De Luxe and the hundreds of Perth volunteers necessary to move the Giants around the city..

 I'll admit I was a little distracted by the gorgeous Frenchman with the long locks below : :)

Eh! What's all the fuss about :)

Best way to avoid the thousands of landlubber spectators!

 Little Girl Giant alights from her boat and walks into the city in search of the Diver..

.. and below this is where we, by that I mean me, not the thousands who followed her for the rest of the day, bid her adieu as she comes around the corner past the Bell Tower onto Barrack St to begin her search. There were those who doubted that the Giants would attract the crowds estimated, as you can see they were wrong :) and yes the public transport has been pushed to the max to cope, but hey, how often do we get to experience an artistic phenomenon at such close quarters! I unfortunately missed yesterdays events which looked incredible but will be out early this morning to catch the finale. Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. I will find a video link after the event so you can see how amazing it was.